Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 2 (Stockdale).djvu/298

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246
VOYAGE IN SEARCH
[1793.

antholoma montana, many plants of which I observed fifteen feet in height. Its leaves are alternate, very strong, and, as well as the flowers, are only to be found at the extremity of the branches.

Explanation of the Figures in Plate XLI.

Fig. 1. Branch of the antholoma montana.

Fig. 2. Flower.

Fig. 3. Receptacle, stamina, and ovarium.

Fig. 4. Corolla.

Fig. 6. Stamina magnified.

One of the geographers of our company having left us about this time for the distance of rather more than half a mile, in order to ascertain the position of the shoals which he discovered from a high peak, received a visit from a savage, who approached him in a threatening manner; he was armed with a dart and a club, and we were afraid he intended to attack him, but he contented himself with examining the instruments which he was using, without giving him the smallest cause of complaint.

We arrived at our vessels about noon. I observed along the coast a double canoe with two sails. It was constructed like those of the islanders of New Caledonia, but the men who were in it spoke the language of the natives of the Friendly Islands. They were eight in number, being seven men andone